Sudden temperature changes are some of the most common causes of pet-related health problems, DeBess says.

“That’s one of the things that we see," he says. "As soon as weather is warm, everybody takes their dog out for a run, then gets overheated.”

Here are a few summertime do’s and don’ts:

Never leave your pet alone in a car when it’s warm outside. They can die of heatstroke in a matter of minutes.

“Even when outside temperatures are a moderate 70 degrees, a car or truck cab can become a miniature greenhouse,” the OVMA says on its website. “The temperature inside a car can quickly climb to more than 110 degrees.

Dogs pant to cool down rather than perspire, and being in a hot car can cause them to panic. If you see your pet acting oddly, call your vet immediately.

Always provide clean, cool drinking water to prevent dehydration. But be careful of allowing your dog to drink excess amounts of water before, during or after exercise.

Don’t exercise your pet during the hottest time of days (between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.); instead do it during the cooler parts of the day, such as morning or evening.

Don’t exercise your dog on hot pavement, because their pads can get damaged or blistered. Run them on the grass instead.